Rugged EIZO Products in Alstor’s Offer

Alstor, a regular exhibitor at MSPO, will present both new and proven products from its portfolio at the upcoming trade among others the reinforced Talon RGD3202W 32″ LCD monitor and the Condor CR5SL-B5000 graphics card based on the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell GPU. Manufactured in the USA and in Japan, EIZO-branded equipment meets the highest military standards, as well as the demanding requirements for data processing and visualization. Reading such an introduction, one might think: “Are they planning to play video games there?” Well… in a way, yes!

Talon monitors feature a reinforced design and handles that facilitate installation and operation in harsh conditions

Until almost the end of the 20th century, global development, modern technologies, and new materials were largely byproducts of the arms race and the competition for supremacy in space. Today, this trend is no longer as clear-cut, with many civilian technologies being adapted by the military. Some, though originally developed for the armed forces, owe their expansion and mass production to civilian markets.

The history of computer systems is similar. ENIAC and Colossus were created for military purposes. They marked the beginning of the computing era. At the same time, civilian applications, such as the computer gaming market, drove the rapid growth of computing power, packaged into the accessible form of personal computers. Although this short paragraph greatly simplifies and generalises the subject, inviting debate and corrections, it nonetheless offers a perspective on the interplay between technological development in the worlds of uniform and suit.

For a computer gamer, success in gameplay requires a powerful computer with a high-performance graphics card, a low-latency internet connection, a fast-refresh monitor, and many other equally important components. As it turns out, the modern battlefield, from a particular perspective, bears some resemblance to computer games. The most significant difference is that in war, there is no respawn; soldiers die for real.

The picture-by-picture function allows simultaneous viewing of multiple image sources

Let’s focus on the similarities. In real combat, battlefield management systems (BMS), reconnaissance systems, and communications systems have very similar requirements. Fast graphics processing, video compression, AI use, and data analysis are now everyday tasks on the electronic battlefield. In addition to these challenges, there are environmental concerns that these systems must address, including dust, dirt, water, vibration, impacts, and electromagnetic interference, just a few of the threats that consumer electronics typically do not encounter. In the military, however, this is the daily reality, which is why products for the armed forces must meet numerous military standards.

Knowledge is fuel for a commander. Where is the enemy? What forces and intentions does he have? What will the weather be like? What forces are at his own disposal? What is the terrain of operations? Gathering this information is no easy task. One could endlessly describe the methods of acquiring it, and still, someone would likely come up with other, equally effective sources.

But information itself is not the same as knowledge. It’s like a giant board covered with millions of newspaper clippings that you look at from a distance. You know they are pieces of information, but you have no way of drawing conclusions from the whole. You realize that some of them are full of valuable content, others are horoscopes written by a janitor during a break between coffee and an afternoon nap. In contrast, seemingly insignificant details (such as a long-term weather forecast) may take on meaning when combined with the proper context (for example, the announcement of winter break dates in your region).

NVIS technology supports observation in low-light conditions, smoke, or sandstorms

We may have too little information, but often we are faced with an overwhelming amount of it. All of it must be filtered, transmitted, stored, analysed, and finally presented to the commander in a digestible form. That’s an enormous task. Today, due to the dynamics of the battlefield, it often exceeds human capabilities. Knowledge must be delivered on time; otherwise, it becomes outdated. And time is always in short supply.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) enables decision-making support and data analysis by AI agents. This allows a significant increase in the volume of data that can be analysed, correlated, sorted, and verified. At the same time, a recurring challenge arises: where should these operations be performed? Ideally, the data could be sent to a computing centre, where dozens or even hundreds of servers would perform all the necessary steps to transform the collected information into a finished product, intelligence data.

However, as I already mentioned, the amount of information is massive. Transmitting it anywhere is time-consuming, costly, and often outright impossible. This gave rise to the idea of edge computing. Such processing (usually preliminary) takes place as close as possible to the point of data acquisition, for example, onboard a reconnaissance UAV, which can compare newly captured images against pre-stored data in real-time and transmit only those showing significant changes.

Detailed image display is especially important in the case of BMS systems

For such advanced analysis, high-performance graphics processors are used, such as those integrated into the Condor CR5SL-B5000 graphics cards. High-resolution video must be compressed with the appropriate codec to reduce the volume of transmitted data while minimising quality loss. This is another task where the graphics card can provide support. Information from 4K cameras, thermal imaging sensors, and radars can be transmitted without delay thanks to GPUDirect RDMA technology and analysed by specialised artificial intelligence to identify targets using ATR – Automatic Target Recognition. This greatly facilitates the operator’s work, reduces their workload, and provides support in challenging observation conditions.

Presenting the battlefield picture in a clear and up-to-date manner, as well as analysing it, is supported by increasingly advanced tools, such as the previously mentioned BMS systems. By visualising and overlaying collected data with the knowledge and experience of commanders, soldiers have a much greater chance of success in operations. The kinetic part, the foundation of a soldier’s craft, must first be analysed, worked out, and planned.

Although command posts still rely on maps and transparent overlays, and the ability to use them has fortunately not been lost among officers, electronic maps displayed on high-resolution monitors are increasingly becoming the primary command tool. The previously mentioned videos or images must ultimately be analyzed and presented to develop or support the right decisions.

This is where high-resolution monitors prove invaluable. A commander can quickly identify AI-recognised targets, visible under any conditions, thanks to NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) technology, and order their destruction, observing the results on the same screen using the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) function. Afterwards, he can switch to a completely different data source just as easily using the built-in SwitchLink switch. And all of this in 3840 x 2160 resolution, enabling even the most minor details to be seen.

An optional high-brightness backlight makes it possible to view the monitor in full sunlight

In addition to their ruggedise construction, the monitors are also resistant to external factors and electromagnetic radiation, as confirmed by MIL-STD-810 and MIL-STD-461 standards. They are suitable for use in classified systems, as they are built using TEMPEST technology. A range of other features, available either by default or as options, such as multi-image display, increased brightness for outdoor use, or heating for Arctic conditions, shows that the manufacturer truly understands the needs of the modern battlefield.

Unlike traditional solutions, the external display panel is bonded to the matrix with a layer of transparent resin using Optical Bonding technology. This significantly reduces glare, increases contrast, and improves the physical durability of the monitor’s front surface, which is the most exposed to damage. It also prevents moisture condensation and improves touch precision, which is crucial when working with small details, such as on maps. The standard operating temperature range is -20°C to +55°C, which can be extended on the lower end with an optional heater. Physical buttons on the casing provide intuitive operation, even on the move.

The EIZO Talon RGD3202W monitors can be customised to meet user requirements. They can be fitted with handles to enhance operator stability and facilitate easier installation and removal. An optional SwitchLink data source switch enables quick source changes and handling signals from several sources using one keyboard and mouse. There is also the option to configure a wide range of input/output ports to adapt connectivity to user needs.

The above examples of use may seem somewhat distant, both in terms of space and from the everyday soldier’s perspective. After all, a shirt is closer to the body than a map. So let me illustrate the use of technologies familiar to gamers on a real battlefield.

Imagine you are the commander of an armoured vehicle, such as a Rosomak, somewhere in Afghanistan or Iraq. Your vehicle, seemingly ordinary, is in fact a cutting-edge blend of technology and a highly trained crew. Onboard are electronic components delivered by Alstor. Your decisions are supported by artificial intelligence powered by the GPGPU (General-Purpose on Graphics Processing Units) technology of the Condor CR5SL-B5000 graphics card, which uses the GPU to perform general-purpose calculations, while feeds from night-vision cameras, thermal imagers, battlefield radar, and lidar enhance your keen vision. These images are continuously analysed by AI, which neither tires nor succumbs to routine. The engine roars, but your ears are backed by multiple directional microphones tuned to pick up the distinct sounds of weapons.

The picture-in-picture function allows viewing a secondary source while displaying the primary source in detail

All this information is displayed on the monitor, with areas highlighted by AI that don’t fit the overall picture. The computer recognises freshly dug soil dozens of meters ahead of you, giving you a chance to avoid an IED.

The enemy doesn’t give up and opens fire from nearby bushes, unaware that they are visible. What the human eye would miss is detected through data from the vehicle’s onboard electronics. With a single tap on the screen, you can designate the target for the vehicle’s gunner, return fire, and safely withdraw – without casualties.

Although the above example may sound like a mix between an old sergeant’s war story and Star Wars, it illustrates the application of modern systems on the traditional battlefield – even at the lowest tactical level.

Thanks to its compliance with strict military standards and its military-grade VPX form factor, the EIZO Condor CR5SL-B5000 graphics card becomes an integral part of a vehicle or aircraft. Whether it’s processing video streams, analysing images, or powering artificial intelligence, the card performs reliably in the harsh realities of military operations. Its operating temperature range of -40 to +85°C enables it to function in extreme conditions, such as high-altitude flights. Enhanced thermal efficiency, alternative cooling systems (such as conduction- or air-cooled), and high resistance to vibration and shock broaden its potential applications. Its 3U VPX standard size makes it suitable even for smaller unmanned aerial vehicles. The fast PCIe interface, combined with a hardware Switchtec switch, the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell GPU, and 24 GB of DDR7 ECC memory, positions the card at the forefront of performance. Additionally, the GPU supports hardware-accelerated video compression and decompression (NVDEC), ensuring fast transmission of high-quality video streams. Also noteworthy is its support for NVIDIA GPU Direct, which enables direct memory access and reduces data processing latency.

As already mentioned earlier, it is not wise to rely solely on electronics. We must still know how to use acetate overlays and maps, how a compass works, and how to estimate distance with binoculars. At the same time, we cannot pretend that modern technology does not affect us and that we can continue doing the same things just as well with techniques from 50 years ago.

The VPX format is a recognized military standard, and the 3U size means the system occupies minimal space
Illustrations: via Alstor

We can either harness modernity and use it to our advantage, or it will catch us unprepared. The modern commander must skilfully combine traditional knowledge with contemporary methods.

In this article, I have not touched upon most of the issues related to the use of new technologies on the battlefield. I merely skimmed the surface to show that the military also needs modern graphics cards, monitors, and many other technological innovations that we have so far primarily associated with computer geeks. Well, perhaps in a somewhat more challenging case.